DescriptionA hand surgeon uses special techniques to work on hands – a unique area of the body with small bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscle and nerves that all need to be in good working order to function together well. Most hand surgeons are trained as general surgeons, plastic surgeons or orthopedic surgeons, with hands as a subspecialty. Many also have expertise in problems with the elbow, arm and shoulder. Among problems hand surgeons treat are carpal tunnel syndrome; tennis elbow; wrist pain; arthritis; nerve and tendon injuries; and fractures of the hand, wrist or forearm. Treatment is not always surgical – the doctors may suggest medication, splints, therapy or injections.

Dr. drake was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:university of minnesota medical school

Year of Graduation:
1972

Dr. drake received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:
Recieved in 1973

State Medical License:
Issued in the state of Minnesota

Dr. drake accepts insurance from these companies:

aetna

united healthcare

Acceptance of particular Insurance Plans may vary, based on different office locations. As a result, we've listed Plans accepted at different locations.>

See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.>

Disciplinary Actions: Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

A hand surgeon uses special skills and training to perform surgery on hands, as well as non-surgical procedures, and to prescribe therapies or medication. With 27 bones each, the hands have more bones than any other body part; hand surgeons must learn how to navigate around and repair tiny bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons – all of which need to work in tandem for the hand to function well.

What special training do hand surgeons have?

Hand surgeons are doctors trained as general surgeons, plastic surgeons or orthopedic surgeons. They undergo additional training in hand surgery as a subspecialty. Many also develop expertise in areas related to the hand, such as problems with the arm, elbow or shoulder.

What are some of the most common conditions hand surgeons treat?

Some of the conditions hand surgeons treat are carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, wrist pain, fractures of the finger, hand, wrist, forearm or elbow, nerve and tendon injuries, arthritis, congenital bone defects (such as a crooked finger) or rheumatoid deformities, and infections. Hand surgeons also treat injuries due to animal bites on the hand or fingers, reattach fingers, or even create new fingers from toes and other joints.

A hand surgeon does not always recommend surgery – other treatment such as medication, splints, physical therapy or injections may be recommended instead to improve the condition, such as an injection of fluid called hyaluronan to ease the symptoms of arthritis.

Hand surgeons can offer expert diagnosis and specialized treatment for any type of pain in the fingers, hands, wrists, arms or shoulders.

The most common conditions hand surgeons treat are:

Carpal tunnel syndrome– Pressure on the median nerve in the wrist in the carpal tunnel causes pain. Most cases of carpal tunnel are treated without surgery, but when needed, a release surgery can be conducted to cut a ligament and relieve pressure.

Creating fingers from toes and other joints – If a finger is injured beyond repair, a hand surgeon may reconstruct it with parts from other joints. A damaged thumb mightcan be replaced by transplanting a toe onto the hand in its place.

Cuts on the fingers and hand – Cuts may require stitches or even surgery to repair damaged tissues such as the tendons that move the fingers.

Hand sports injuries – Hand surgeons fix sprains, fractures, cuts, gashes, ligament tears and other sports injuries that occur from the shoulder to the tip of the finger.

Wrist pain – Pain can be treated with therapies, injections or medication; if pain persists, a hand surgeon may recommend surgery for some conditions.

Wrist sports injury – Wrist sprains or fractures are among the most common sports injuries, especially in sports like snowboarding, where the hands are the only limbs free to help stop a fall.